I have had several kinds of long haired dogs. I always say I will never have another but then......I get another! My Shih Tzu had a huge thick coat. I kept it long for about half of his 15 years. It was a lot of work but he was just so gorgeous in full coat.
I do love the look of a long haired dog and I guess that is why I have always been attracted to them. When I was working full time and had kids it was a challenge keeping up with the coat. If people are not dedicated to the upkeep of long hair then they should be dedicated to getting the dog groomed regularly.
Gracie has a nice silky coat. I now have time to groom her and she has learned to accept her daily grooming. (sometimes more than daily) It is something that requires the right tools and products to keep the coat looking good and tangle free. I think that truly she would have preferred to be born a smooth coated Jack Russell Terrier but she is still just as much of a little character in her long hair as she would be in short hair.
Long or short the coat does require regular work and if a person does not want to be bothered with that then they might want to consider a short coated breed instead. |